Rather than visiting the white sandy beaches and emerald green waters of Panama City Beach, Alpha Gamma Rho members Bob Schroeder and Jacob Stukenberg visited Americus, Georgia to help build a house with Habitat For Humanity. The Greek Chapter of Intervarsity Christian Fellowship at the U of I, which Schroeder and Stukenberg are both actively involved in, has been organizing Habitat Trips for the past few years as an alternative trip for Spring Break. This year saw a group of 16 Greeks give up their free time to put on there work clothes and grab a hammer or two to help build a house for someone they didn't know, 800 miles away. During their time spent there, this small group of volunteers was able to install the windows, side over half the house, build a small storage shed, start the roofing process, form some strong friendships, and an unfortunate few even managed to learn the difference between a finger and a nail.
Habitat for Humanity International was started just outside of Americus, Georgia in 1968 with the vision of decent housing for all. Since then, Habitat has built over 300,000 houses worldwide and has a reachable goal of 400,000 by 2011. These houses are sheltering more than 1.5 million people in 3,000 communities worldwide.
While only two Alpha members took on this awesome opportunity this year, Schroeder and Stukenberg are hoping to see even more come out in 2011 and would like to organize a Habitat Trip for the Chapter in the years to come.
Exceptional IGI Chapter
March 8, 2010 - Alpha Chapter of Alpha Gamma Rho has recently been named one of two chapters labled an Exceptional Chapter by the Interfraternity Council standards in the Illinois Greek Initiative. The Illinois Greek Initiative is a system by which the Interfraternity Council can evaluate and reward its member chapters for high achievement. The chapters must excel in areas of Grades, Alumni Relations, Recruitment, Service, and Philanthropy among many others. With this recognition comes half off IFC dues for the next year, saving the chapter $6 per member per semester. Also this recognition will be a great asset for recruitment purposes as we move into recruiting season.
Alpha Alumni wins Grand President Award
RENO, Nev. – Feb. 27, 2010
Jim Zumwalt was recently honored with the Alpha Gamma Rho Grand President’s Award during the 2010 AGR Leadership Seminar. His efforts consistent with the AGR Promise and Values qualified him for this award.
Zumwalt is Business Development Manager at Agri Business Group in Indianapolis, where he provides clients with experience in education, sales and marketing. He has an Agriculture Mechanization Degree from the University of Illinois. His skills include project management, organizational leadership, strategic planning, business development, client relationship management and communications.
Through his contributions to agriculture, Zumwalt has provided product development and market introductions for products of companies ranging from Pfizer Animal Health to Farm Credit Services, Pioneer Hi-Bred International and more. His professional development has promoted lifelong career success within the industry.
He continues to be involved with Alpha Gamma Rho, where he was a key player in the branding initiative. He is president of the Alpha Alumni Corporation Board and served on the Convention Steering Committee for the 2008 Chicago Convention and the 2002 Minneapolis/St. Paul Convention. Zumwalt was awarded the Brother of the Century Award in 2004 and previously served as Chapter Consultant for the Home Office.
Administered and nominated by a selection committee, including Regional Vice Presidents, the Grand President’s Award is awarded by AGR for business excellence and professional achievement. It is awarded to specific fraternity alumni age 40 or under who have achieved remarkable success in their professional careers. This award demonstrates an honorable acknowledgement of Zumwalt’s leadership, professionalism and knowledge of his industry.
2010 AGR Leadership Seminar
PHILADELPHIA, PA – February 24, 2010
Twelve members from Alpha Chapter attended the annual AGR Leadership Seminar in Philadelphia on the weekend of February 19-21. At the seminar, these members met with other AGR and Sigma Alpha Chapters from around the country to exchange ideas that can be applied to improve the chapter. Other events at the seminar included an Ag Forum, where members had the chance to learn about current ag issues and ask the panel questions, and an opportunity to meet with executives from Monsanto and Pioneer.
While the members were in Philadelphia, they had the opportunity to experience much of the country’s history by visiting the Liberty Bell, The National Constitution Center, and The United States Mint. The seminar was fun and educational for the members.
Brother Bowman Named 2006 Star Farmer
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity is proud to announce the newly awarded, 2006 FFA Star Farmer, Andrew Bowman. This award is one of FFA's highest honors, which was presented at the 79th National FFA Convention, Oct. 25-28, in Indianapolis.
During the convention, each finalist participates in interviews by a panel of judges, who will ultimately name the top candidate in each area. Those areas are American Star Farmer, American Star in Agribusiness, American Star in Agricultural Placement, and American Star in Agriscience. Bowman was presented with the award during an onstage convention ceremony and received a plaque and an award of $4,000. All finalists will receive plaques and $2,000 each.
Andrew Bowman became a member of the Alpha Chapter at the University of Illinois in the fall of 2004 and currently resides as an Undergraduate Director on the AGR National Board.
Bowman is a student at the University of Illinois, pursuing a degree in crop sciences, emphasizing in agribusiness management. He is considering a Master's Degree in agricultural economics or agricultural policy and would like to work in the agribusiness industry.
His campus involvement includes serving as Alpha Zeta treasurer, ACES Student Council reporter, ACES James Scholar, ACES Jonathan Baldwin Turner Scholar, and a 2004-2005 Dean's List honoree. For the Alpha Chapter Andrew has served as assistant house manager, service chair, chaplain, and Homecoming co-chair. His service involvement includes Habitat for Humanity, Big Brothers and Sisters of Champaign County Poker Tournament, and Campus for a Non-Violent Campus. Andrew is also an Interfraternity Council Judicial Board Member. His agricultural service involvement includes 4-H can make a difference food drive, Illinois Farm Bureau Ag in the Classroom Bike Ride, and ROWVA FFA Ag-Literacy Program.
Alpha Gamma Rho is the National Agricultural Fraternity with 67 Chapters. Membership exceeds 60,000 men in 50 states and 54 countries. The fraternity's goal is to make better men and to promote the increasingly important and versatile field of agriculture.
Ray Ropp Honored by Illinois ACES Alumni Association
Ray Ropp was honored by the University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association receiving the association's Award of Merit. The award was presented during the college's Funk Awards April 25, 2006. Ray was one of six recipients.
Ray Ropp is a dairy farmer in Normal, Illinois in partnership with his son Ken. Ray develops registered Jersey cattle on a farm bought by his great-great-great grandfather in 1867. Ray has been president of the Illinois Jersey Cattle Association, the National Milk Producers Federation, and the Land of Lincoln Purebred Cattle Association and director of the Purebred Dairy Cattle Association. He has also served on countless committees and organizations, the Normal Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce, McLean-Dewitt Regional School Board, Heartland FFA Alumni Association, and Farm Bureau.
Ray became a member of the Alpha Chapter at the University of Illinois during 1961. While Noble Ruler at the University Of Illinois Alpha Chapter he was the initiating officer of the new chapter at the University of Tennessee-Martin and Western Illinois University. He was also instrumental in forming Beta Delta Chapter at Illinois State University, and was the first chapter adviser. Ray is also an Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity Brother of the Century.
The Ropp family was selected as the Illinois 4-H Family of the year in 2003. Ray is married to Carol, a retired Math teacher who was the first Sweetheart of the Alpha Chapter. They have two children, Karen and Ken. Ken is also an alumnus of the Alpha Chapter of AGR.
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